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Nature

Hands holding smartphone taking picture of plant outdoors
Technology Meets Nature: Apps Bring Us Closer to Flora and Fauna

Mar 31, 2022 ● By Sheryl DeVore

We can enhance our nature experiences with these smartphone apps that identify plants and animals, interact with scientists, share knowledge and observations, and contribute to science.

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Illustrations of various plants
Nature Apps to Learn By

Mar 31, 2022

Nature smartphone apps to identify various plants and animals, submit wildlife findings, locate trails and more.

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Child leaning on table looking at craft made out of acorns, pinecones, leaves and twigs
Nature Speaks: Storytelling Connects Kids to the Natural World

Mar 31, 2022 ● By Carrie Jackson

Weaving storytelling into nature programs helps children understand their outdoor experiences and develop an appreciation for wilderness.

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Bikers crossing a wooden bridge as a part of a bike path
Will County Forest Preserve District Offers 95-Mile Spring Challenge

Feb 28, 2022

Help the Forest Preserve District of Will County celebrate its 95th anniversary by walking, running or biking 95 miles in the district’s 127 miles of paved, crushed limestone and natural surface trails from March 1 through June 30 and you can win a prize.

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Maple syrup dripping off a tree into a metal pan
Maple Syrup Programs On Tap in Lake County

Feb 28, 2022

Stop by the Lake County Forest Preserves in March for Maple Syrup Hikes through the Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods, IL, near Chicago. Great outdoor family event to ease into spring.

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A father and his son standing on a walkway bridge
Local Blogs Beckon Armchair Naturalists to Investigate Midwest Nature

Feb 28, 2022 ● By Sheryl DeVore

Nature blogs offer armchair naturalists a chance to go exploring. Local writers help nature lovers discover everything from the wildlife to the natural wonders of the Midwest. From the Great Lakes to the Great Plains, nature is never far away. Read more here.

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Oriole Nest
Forest Preserve Hosts Campout, Hikes and Webinars

Feb 09, 2022

The Forest Preserve District of Will County’s March programs include a winter campout, an off-trail hike and webinars about birding and women in nature.

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Suzanne Simard sitting amongst a moss filled tree
Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference Honors Flora, Fauna and Funga

Jan 31, 2022

The 11th annual Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference will be held May 27 through 29 at Camp Helen Brachman, in Almond, Wisconsin, to celebrate our connection with the Earth and each other.

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The male northern cardinal sings to attract a mate in late January and February.
Birdsong Begins in Mid-Winter

Jan 31, 2022 ● By Sheryl DeVore

Birdsong returns to the Chicago region in late January and February, even when it’s cold and snowy and the deciduous trees are leafless. Cardinals and other birds let us know that spring is on the way, says Sheryl DeVore.

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Owl flying
Sounds of Nature are Fading

Jan 31, 2022

A study suggests that our natural environment is becoming quieter and less varied due to changes in the makeup of bird populations.

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A man cross country skiing through the woods
Forest Preserves Offer Winter Activities

Jan 14, 2022

There are so many amazing ways for visitors and families to recreate outside in nature during the winter, and there's no better place to experience the season and improve your physical and mental wellness than in your forest preserves.

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Groundhog on the side of the road
Forest Preserve February Programs Feature Groundhogs, Bees and Bombie

Jan 13, 2022

Forest Preserve District of Will County program topics include groundhogs, bird-watching, Valentine’s Day, fossils, bees and even the Abominable Snowman!

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A woman standing in a garden with her arms out
Build Your Own Prairie

Jan 06, 2022

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and partners will provide prairie planting information to gardeners during two virtual panel discussions in January and February.

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Headshot of publisher Peggy Malecki
Letter from Publisher

Dec 30, 2021

From all of us here at Natural Awakenings Chicago, we wish you a happy, healthy, safe and peaceful New Year!

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Openlands logo with a tree
Openlands Awarded Restoration Grant for Cook County Project

Dec 30, 2021

Openlands and partners have received a $400,000 Walder Foundation grant to restore open spaces in Beaubien Woods, part of the 70,000-acre Forest Preserves of Cook County. Comprising prairie, woodland and wetland habitats, it runs along the Little Calumet River, an environmentally significant waterway that connects Chicago to the Mississippi River.

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December 2024 Issue

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December 2024 Natural Awakenings Chicago cover image mugs and holidays
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